Buddy's Gluten Free Pizza/Caraba's Italian Grille Review

I finally had the chance to head to Buddy's Pizza to try their gluten free pizza. My son and I walked through the doors with our mouths watering. It has been awhile since we've been out to eat, and especially for pizza. It was going to be a treat for sure.

I ordered the cheese and pepperoni because I wanted to taste the crust to see if it was as good as I remember Buddy's pizza to be. I guess I was waiting for something that I just couldn't make at home and I was so disappointed. I found the pizza was expensive at $8.49 for a 8x10 pizza. The crust was no better than what I can make at home much cheaper, and the pizza overall was very blah. Not impressed and I should've been since it was something I was really looking forward to trying.


I also tried Carrabba's. Not that my food was bad, but it was just nothing. They actually have a gluten free menu and all it consists of are items that are naturally gluten free excluding any of the flavor and extras that other people get with their "normal" dinners. It's a shame.

My main peeve with these and other establishments that offer gluten free food is that shouldn't the prices be lower for our gluten free dishes? You're saving money on half of the items that go on top or into the dishes that you have designated for us. Why should I pay the same amount or more for a salad without most of the toppings? Gluten free eaters shouldn't be considered "specialty" customers that you can jack the price up on.

And for Pete's sake, if you claim to be an Italian restaurant that offers gluten free food, why wouldn't you make gluten free breadsticks?!?!?! Everyone else at the table has breadsticks to eat while waiting for their dinner and I have to sit and wait. Course, I realize they would have to be an additional $18 added on the bill, but occasionally it would be worth it to partake in on the appetizers like everyone else.

Not impressed with my last two dinner outings, so I'm seeking better!

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA SPUDS

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA SPUDS

As my gluten free journey continues, I find myself always trying to come up with different ways to make our old family favorites. I told you about my Cheeseburger Spuds, and I took my concept one step further to make Pizza Spuds. Potatoes are a great gluten free vessel and they're economical to feed my family, so I often use potatoes in place of many items. I usually make my own gluten free pizza crust, but didn't have any on hand so we baked up our potatoes and came up with this creation:


GLUTEN FREE PIZZA SPUDS


8-10 medium sized potatoes
4 cups Italian shredded cheese or any kind you have on hand
8 ounces Pepperoni
1-2 jars pizza sauce (make sure it's gluten free)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter or margarine
Salt, pepper and garlic powder for taste




Bake the potatoes at 350 degrees for approx. 45 minutes or until tender


Cut the baked potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the middle and place in a large mixing bowl


Place the skins on a cookie sheet


Mix in the sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder and 2 cups of the cheese into the mixing bowl with the insides of the potatoes

Mix until well blended. Slowly add the pizza sauce until the consistency is just about playdough. You don't want to get this mixture too wet or it won't stay in the skins well.

Place a teaspoon of pizza sauce on the bottom of the potato skins, place pepperoni on top of the sauce, add a scoop of the potato mixture on top of the sauce, and top with more shredded cheese.


Place these twice baked gluten free pizza spuds back into the oven until the cheese is melted.


This a quick, easy and delicious gluten free meal. It takes the place of traditional pizza, and my kids loved them because they could still pick them up with their hands and we ate them while we watched a movie.


Best wishes for a happy gluten free day!
Susan :)
The Celiac Shack

Gluten Free Cheeseburger Spuds

GLUTEN FREE CHEESEBURGER SPUDS

Thought I'd share another gluten free creation from my kitchen that was a huge hit with my kids. I had a taste for a cheeseburger, but I haven't been able to find any good gluten free hamburger buns, so I did the next best thing. I mixed my cheeseburger with my fries...TAH DAH...my cheeseburger spuds were born!



This meal literally takes no time at all and it satisfies that craving for a burger like no other I've found.
GLUTEN FREE CHEESEBURGER SPUDS
(All of my recipes are created for feeding a family of six, so adjust it accordingly for your family)


8-10 medium sized potatoes
2 lbs. ground meat
2-3 packets of Gluten Free Cheese Sauce ( I use our Cheese Sauce by Full Flavor Foods - Amazing product and it's on sale right now on our SALE page)
1 large onion
1 large tomato
2 cups of chopped lettuce
Mustard
Ketchup
Dill pickle slices or dill relish
Salt, Pepper & Garlic powder


Bake 6 potatoes @ 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until tender

Brown the ground meat (I use ground turkey to make it healthier) Add garlic powder, salt & pepper to the meat for taste


Prepare the Cheese Sauce according to the package directions (Again, our Cheese Sauce is SO easy to prepare and it literally takes 5 minutes to make)


Slice the baked potatoes and top with the browned ground meat and cheese sauce. Top with all of your favorite cheeseburger toppings. ENJOY!


My kids never eat baked potatoes because they don't like the skin, but they ate these! Skin and all!! They got all the nutrients from the potatoes, enjoyed ground turkey without any complaints, and devoured lettuce, tomatoes and onions!! This is an amazing dish people!!


From our home to yours, best wishes for a happy gluten free day!


Susan :)
The Celiac Shack

SPRING BLOWOUT SALE!

THE CELIAC SHACKS' SPRING SALE IS GOING ON NOW!

While we're working on our new website, we are making room for all of our new inventory.  We're hosting our Spring Sale right now on our temporary Sale page, so click on the SALE link above and save a lot of money on some really great gluten free products.  Everything must go so we have room for all of our new product lines!

Happy shopping and best wishes for a happy gluten free day!

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!